"I was just naive to his whole legacy" - D'Angelo Russell talks about challenges of having Kobe Bryant as mentor

While all-stars are a dime a dozen in the NBA, transcendent superstars are a rarity. During his rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2015-16 season, D'Angelo Russell had the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest of all time – Kobe Bryant .

However, the crafty lefty admitted the learning process wasn't smooth sailing, especially since he was a young rookie. While Kob was still all business despite playing in the final year of his legendary 20-year career, DLo was more focused on enjoying the NBA life and all the perks that came with it.

Naive to Kobe's legacy

Russell, who the Lakers selected with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, was a precocious left-handed guard who wowed scouts with one outstanding season at Ohio State. Although he knew Bryant and was aware of his larger-than-life stature in the sport, he wasn't fully aware of just how intense and dedicated Kobe was to his craft.

"I was just naive to his whole legacy at that time, bro. I'm young and dumb, thinking everything's funny. Kobe Bryant? Let me see if I can make him laugh," DLo told Theo Pinson on "Run Your Race."

By then, Bean had somewhat mellowed, but he still wasn't compromising on the court. On a team full of young guys, he was just as keen on preparation and the minute details of the game that could lead to wins. He also saw Russell's potential and took the young guard under his wing.

"I got it the hard way. He wasn't laughing; he was serious all the time. He smiled, but he little bro'd me. You know what I mean? It wasn't like 'Shoo, fly,' it was like 'Lil bro, think about this,'" the one-time All-Star shared.

DLo said that the "Black Mamba" tried his best to mentor him. However, the native of Louisville, Kentucky, felt he was over his head with the things that Kobe was trying to impart.

"I was 18, bro, so the knowledge he was kicking was way over my head at that point. I'm looking him in his face like, 'Yeah,' and not hearing nothing he's saying," Russell admitted. "I was moving at 100 miles an hour, and he'd be talking like Mr. Miyagi. I'd be like, 'Yeah, yeah,' and then I'd be moving again. Then I'd get a text from him and be like, 'Oh,' and then move again. It was a blur, for real."

DLo now gets it

With nine years of NBA experience, D'Angelo acknowledged that Kobe's teachings, which once seemed like a foreign language, now make perfect sense. From reading the defense to playing the pick-and-roll to planning for life after his NBA career, it all fell into place. He had been drowning in an ocean of knowledge and wisdom, but now he is swimming with confidence.

"Like I said, all that stuff would be way over my head. He'd be talking about things I should be thinking about when I'm done playing. Now, in year 10, that's the stuff that I'm on now, trying to prepare for when I'm done playing," the crafty 6-foot-3 guard said.

The presence of experienced players to guide and mentor young talents is an invaluable asset in the NBA. For D'Angelo, having a legend like Kobe as his mentor was a blessing he didn't fully appreciate until much later. Now, with time and experience, the Lakers guard understands the profound impact of having someone like Bryant in his corner.